Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman
A diplomatic standoff that unfolded at Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport on March 13, 2025, has raised serious questions about the spirit of unity and cooperation within the African Union.
In a statement, Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman, expressed his disappointment after being detained for nearly eight hours at the airport alongside several other prominent African leaders.
Othman, who was accompanied by the Tanzania’s Ambassador to Zambia, Lieutenant General Matthew Edward Mkingule, was among a group of political figures invited to attend the Africa Democracy Forum, a high-profile international conference aimed at discussing governance and democracy across the continent.
Along with Othman, former presidents from Botswana and Colombia, the former Prime Minister of Lesotho, and various political leaders from African countries and beyond were detained without any explanation by Angolan authorities.
He condemned the actions of the Angolan authorities, calling them an “embarrassing diplomatic act” that was entirely unjustified.
Othman made it clear that such behavior undermines the core values of the African Union, particularly at a time when the President of Angola holds the Chairmanship of the AU.
“The actions taken against us have tarnished the spirit of the African Union, especially when the President of Angola is the current Chairperson of the AU,” Othman said in his statement.
“This is an act that should be strongly condemned by all Africans and other nations around the world who value and uphold the principles of brotherhood that were established by the Founding Leaders who fought for the independence of our continent.”
Despite his clear frustration with the treatment he and his fellow leaders received, Othman made it clear that he holds no animosity toward the people of Angola, a nation with whom Tanzania shares a long history of strong relations.
However, the incident has left him questioning the diplomatic standards within Africa’s leadership.
In the wake of the incident, Othman made the decision not to participate in the Africa Democracy Forum, opting instead to return to Tanzania.
He explained that he needed time to reflect on what had transpired, viewing it as an assault on both diplomacy and democracy within Africa.
“I believe I need time for deep reflection and to assess what was done to us, which was an attack on diplomacy and democracy within Africa,” Othman stated.
The incident, which lasted several hours and left the detained leaders exhausted, has sparked a wave of indignation across Africa.
The Zanzibar Vice President’s decision to withdraw from the event underscores the gravity of the situation, sending a clear message that African leadership must be held to higher standards of respect and solidarity.